Obama Skipped Church for Gym!

Barack Obama blew off going to church yesterday in favor of a workout, a breathless Politico report informs us.

President-elect Barack Obama has yet to attend church services since winning the White House earlier this month, a departure from the example of his two immediate predecessors.  On the three Sundays since his election, Obama has instead used his free time to get in workouts at a Chicago gym.

Asked about the president-elect’s decision to not attend church, a transition aide noted that the Obamas valued their faith experience in Chicago but were concerned about the impact their large retinue may have on other parishioners. “Because they have a great deal of respect for places of worship, they do not want to draw unwelcome or inappropriate attention to a church not used to the attention their attendance would draw,” said the aide.

Both President-elect George W. Bush and President-elect Bill Clinton managed to attend church in the weeks after they were elected.

Obviously, this just proves he’s a secret Muslim who hates Jesus. (Yes, says Reliapundit the Astute Blogger :

OBAMA IS A DEEPLY FLAWED AND AMORAL PERSON WITH NOT A SHRED OF INTEGRITY – HIS ATTACHMENT TO HIS BIRTH FAMILY AND TO CHRISTIANITY IS A SHAM – AND HE HAS NO CAPACITY FOR REAL SYMPATHY.

OBAMA IS A PSYCHOPATH. [Bold and all caps in original.]

Also, he was a hypocrite on the campaign trail for pretending otherwise.  Right?  Absolutely, says Mike’s America:

When your supporters think you are god I suppose you don’t feel the need to worship the real one!“  […] This is the same guy who never missed a service at Rev. Wright’s church (“God damn America, U.S. of K.K.K.A”) for 20 years but can’t recall one sermon. I guess he no longer needs the political and social connections that church provided.

Well…

Obama was an infrequent churchgoer on the campaign trail, though he did make a series of appearances in the pews and pulpits of South Carolina churches ahead of that heavily religious state’s primary.

So, basically, he’s just continuing his usual Sunday pattern?  And this is news . . . why?

via Memeorandum

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. sam says:

    Both President-elect George W. Bush and President-elect Bill Clinton managed to attend church in the weeks after they were elected.

    Well that settles it.

  2. SavageView says:

    And this is news . . . why?

    Because the Christianists who form the core of the Bush dead-enders have nothing else to talk about. At least come January W can get back to his drinkin’.

  3. Dantheman says:

    Because he’s really the Antichrist — just as reported by that bastion of the so-called liberal media, Newsweek.

  4. tom p says:

    Because he’s really the Antichrist –

    just wait and see what happens in the 6th hour, of the 6th day, in the 6th week of his presidency…

  5. dan says:

    so….
    let’s see..
    seems you cherry-picked astute6e bloggers:

    during the campaign, he used churches for political appearances but didn’t attend services…

    and he didn’t attend his grandmother’s memorial… the woman who sacrificed for him and made his life possible…

    and he swore he could never abandon wright – his spiritual mentor, and then when it became politically expedient he dumped him under the bus.

    and you think someone who treats religion, faith God so cavalierly and uses it for his own ambition so hypocritically is a fine person and that “there’s nothing to see here, move along…”

    you sir are amoral.

  6. G.A.Phillips says:

    Shameless, blameless and timeless, if liberals can do and say anything they want do you really expect any thing less form their new deity?

  7. G.A.Phillips says:

    just wait and see what happens in the 6th hour, of the 6th day, in the 6th week of his presidency…

    lol, they way you guys have rigged the voting system it will be more like the sixth hour on the sixth the day of the sixth term in the in the year of the many faces of the Slickwilly administration.

  8. Alex Knapp says:

    Color me unconcerned that the president-elect doesn’t feel the need to talk to his imaginary friend every week…

  9. Houston says:

    Well, despite all the snide comments, I do think this is newsworthy. It’s now clear that we have elected the least-religious man for the presidency in at least my lifetime, if not ever.

    And this is after a campaign where he postured about his faith, campaigned in churches whenever expedient, and postioned himself as a man of faith.

    Why did he bother misleading us*? Why not just say the truth – his faith obviously means nothing to him, all the campaigning notwithstanding.

    (*By “us,” I mean those of us who voted for him. Most evangelical Christians were never fooled by his roll-playing.

  10. Dantheman says:

    “It’s now clear that we have elected the least-religious man for the presidency in at least my lifetime, if not ever.”

    Ever, certainly not, as that would include effectively atheist Jefferson and non church-going Lincoln. Lifetime probably depends upon whether your life goes back as far as Nixon.

  11. joyce says:

    Well, I for one, believe we need to keep religion OUT of politics. It belongs in church or in the deep recesses of your mind where all fairy tales should reside. Our country is in disaster mode, if there is a god, why won’t he/she/it help not only us, but all the people who are starving or being murdered in senseless wars!

    Oh, I know..have faith! Faith does NOT pay bills or buy food or cure cancer..in fact, dang it god, can’t you get rid of cancer..please? Nice guy this god…

    Maybe if we can keep our political leaders OUT of church, they will quit praying for miracles, and get something done.

    Being ‘saved’ doesn’t seem to save anyone.

  12. Alex Knapp says:

    By the by, I am amused that weekly church attendence is held as the sole measure of a person’s faith. Weekly church attendence isn’t something that the Bible requires of believers.

    I do recall, though, that it says something about judging others…

  13. tom p says:

    From the Sermon on the Mount:

    “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
    But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

  14. SavageView says:

    Shameless, blameless and timeless, if liberals can do and say anything they want do you really expect any thing less form their new deity?

    You’re just disappointed that Bush has been tossed off Mt. Olympus.

  15. G.A.Phillips says:

    Ever, certainly not, as that would include effectively atheist Jefferson

    He was a Christian!

  16. G.A.Phillips says:

    I do recall, though, that it says something about judging others…

    Is a good point Alex, but lets be clear It does not tell you not to judge others just what will happen if you do.

    “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
    But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

    you are correct sir. But using a Church to gain favor with the world is bad.

  17. G.A.Phillips says:

    You’re just disappointed that Bush has been tossed off Mt. Olympus.

    No I still like Bush but he is not who I thought he was, but then who is? The very point they were making about your Dear leader.

  18. dan says:

    THE PSYCHOPATH – The Mask of Sanity

    Special Research Project of the Quantum Future School

    Imagine – if you can – not having a conscience, none at all, no feelings of guilt or remorse no matter what you do, no limiting sense of concern for the well-being of strangers, friends, or even family members. Imagine no struggles with shame, not a single one in your whole life, no matter what kind of selfish, lazy, harmful, or immoral action you had taken.

    And pretend that the concept of responsibility is unknown to you, except as a burden others seem to accept without question, like gullible fools.

    Now add to this strange fantasy the ability to conceal from other people that your psychological makeup is radically different from theirs. Since everyone simply assumes that conscience is universal among human beings, hiding the fact that you are conscience-free is nearly effortless.

    You are not held back from any of your desires by guilt or shame, and you are never confronted by others for your cold-bloodedness. The ice water in your veins is so bizarre, so completely outside of their personal experience, that they seldom even guess at your condition.

    In other words, you are completely free of internal restraints, and your unhampered liberty to do just as you please, with no pangs of conscience, is conveniently invisible to the world.

    You can do anything at all, and still your strange advantage over the majority of people, who are kept in line by their consciences will most likely remain undiscovered.

    http://www.cassiopaea.com/cassiopaea/psychopath.htm

    seems like obama to me!

  19. G.A.Phillips says:

    Well, I for one, believe we need to keep religion OUT of politics. It belongs in church or in the deep recesses of your mind where all fairy tales should reside. Our country is in disaster mode, if there is a god, why won’t he/she/it help not only us, but all the people who are starving or being murdered in senseless wars!

    Oh, I know..have faith! Faith does NOT pay bills or buy food or cure cancer..in fact, dang it god, can’t you get rid of cancer..please? Nice guy this god…

    Maybe if we can keep our political leaders OUT of church, they will quit praying for miracles, and get something done.

    Being ‘saved’ doesn’t seem to save anyone.

    pure straw man, learn the bible then you will understand.Thing is its kinda hard if your not saved.

  20. tom p says:

    But using a Church to gain favor with the world is bad.

    GA: Like what Elizabeth Dole tried to do to Kay Hagan in NC? Or what the “Yes on 8” campaign did with the Mormon Church in CA?

    There is hypocrisy aplenty to go around.

    I say, give it a break. A persons religious practices, are their own private business.

  21. tom p says:

    Oh, and by the way, US Constitution,Art VI, para 3:

    “but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”

  22. Houston says:

    Ever, certainly not, as that would include effectively atheist Jefferson and non church-going Lincoln. Lifetime probably depends upon whether your life goes back as far as Nixon.

    Well, Jefferson was certainly not an atheist. Nor was he an evangelical Christian, but he was a Deist at worst. Lincoln was not a member of any given church, but was a committed Christian. Nixon, I’m not so sure.

    Well, I for one, believe we need to keep religion OUT of politics. It belongs in church or in the deep recesses of your mind where all fairy tales should reside. Our country is in disaster mode, if there is a god, why won’t he/she/it help not only us, but all the people who are starving or being murdered in senseless wars!

    Oh, I know..have faith! Faith does NOT pay bills or buy food or cure cancer..in fact, dang it god, can’t you get rid of cancer..please? Nice guy this god…

    Maybe if we can keep our political leaders OUT of church, they will quit praying for miracles, and get something done.

    Being ‘saved’ doesn’t seem to save anyone.

    There’s more confusion about Christianity in this one post than I’ve seen in a while. Religion will (and should) never be kept out of politics. It shapes the worldview and decision-making of virtually everyone in the world. It’s simply stupid to think otherwise. If you’d like someone to explain to you why God allows bad things to happen, well, maybe we could start another thread.

    I am amused that weekly church attendence is held as the sole measure of a person’s faith. Weekly church attendence isn’t something that the Bible requires of believers.

    I do recall, though, that it says something about judging others…

    Actually, church attendance says everything you need to know about one’s faith. In fact, we are commanded in the bible to be part of “the bride of Christ,” the community of Christ — which is the church. Not by definition weekly attendence, but active participation, which for most American Christians equals weekly attendance.

    And the thing about judging others – we are supposed to do it, and we are supposed to condemn sin where we see it – but we are also to know that we will also be judged and condemned.

    And yes, what Elizabeth Dole did was shameful, and she lost because of it.

    Oh, and by the way, US Constitution,Art VI, para 3:

    “but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”

    Everyone in the world has the right to apply a religious test for their personal vote. As Christians, we’re essentially commanded to do so.

    Anybody who voted for Obama, and now is shocked and disappointed in this report, should be given a swift poke in the eye with a sharp stick. You should have known better.

  23. SavageView says:

    No I still like Bush…

    As I said, the Christianists who form the rump end of the dead enders.

    Santorum/Keyes ’08!

  24. tom p says:

    As I said, the Christianists who form the rump end of the dead enders.

    Santorum/Keyes ’08!

    And what is your point SV… That you are incapable of engaging anyone who does not agree with you with anything other than insult and innuendo?

  25. tom p says:

    And yes, what Elizabeth Dole did was shameful, and she lost because of it.

    Houston, I would like to think that was true…

    Everyone in the world has the right to apply a religious test for their personal vote.

    Agreed… But when Archbishop Raymond Burke said he would not give communion (willingly) to anyone who voted for John Kerry (set aside your personal vote for the moment) That was most definitely NOT a religious test for his personal vote… Agreed?

    I have said many times before, I have no problem with one’s religious views informing ones political decisions…